Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-13
AN l. sTAGER.
The Career OF One Of the Most Noted
stage Robbers ON the Coast.

stage Robbers ON she Coast.
The Virgins Enterprise says Frank
Clifford was pardoned out Of b State
Prison Saturday last. He was sent from
White Pine county in 1870 for highway
robbery.
In reply to the shove the Reno Gazette
says Clifford was not p~ardoned but served
his time put. There is not much known
of the history Of this remarkable man.,
for many . dark night depreciation is
laid ct his door that could not be proven
in o court Of justice. Wells, Fargo has
had to contend with another in this State
fully Clifford's match, but only one.
Since 1860 Clifford has resided almost
continuously in Carson. He has been
psrdoned twice In that time, and during
his short terms Of liberty, while ap-
parently engaged in most peaceable and
industrious pursuits, stages seldom ar.
rived in his vicinity uninterrupted.
We are not familiar with the par
ticulars Of his first offense, but for it he
was confined in the State Prison for Q
long term Of years, and in 1879 he took
q prominent part in the big emeute n
effected his escape. The history and plan
ming OF that remarkable break would
make . most interesting chapter, but We
have no room here. As soon al the
prisoners got out and reached the river,
q few, who had procured arms, turned
them upon their unarmed comrades and
made them travel in snosher direction.
The party in which Clifford was eventu-
ally reached the Great East after much
suffering. There the stage was robbed
and much booty obtained, among which
was some $500 in greenbscks, and about
which none of the escapes seemed to
know anything. A very short time after
the last stage robbery a posse came upon
the prisoners early in the morning and
found them sleeping in Q little hollow.
They were all returned to the prison and
the booty given up except the $500 in
greenbacks. A couple of years later
Clifford received a pardon, and the other
prisoners ever after claimed that the
greenbacks did it-that he had secreted
the money 80 cunningly that he was never
found out.
In 1877 the stage from Eureka to Typo
was attacked by three men. The stage
was defended by two passengers-Jim
Brown and Jim Singleton. Brown was
shot in the leg, and Jack Davis. the re-
nowned Verdi car robber, was killed, but
lived . few hours. The robbers captured
the station hands, bound aud gagged
them and waited for the stage. On its
arrival things resulted as above. Davis
died without revealing his accomplices.
Tom Lowery and Bob Hamilton, two
former prisoners, were arrested. That
made three with Davis, but il was proven
that Lowery was not at the scene at all,
having been only an accomplish in light
ing two fires on Pinto Mountain. eight
miles from Eureka, informing the robbers
in the valley that q rich load was COM
ing with two messengers. The third man
who took part in the robbery is belle we'd
to have been Clifford, though he has never
been given away.
In 1881 Lowery was pardoned, his
brother, . minister of the gospel in Penn
sylvania coming out here to get him out,
He came with high recommendations
from Governor Curtin and Senator Jones
with regard to the standing Of the family
in the East. On getting ont. Lowery
acknowledgements against Wells, Fargo
Bob Hamilton is still confined in prison,
having forfeited all credits on account Of
ill-behavior.
In 1878 Clifford was proven guilty oil
stealing two bars of bullion in Ward. he
was given away by y m he bad lived
with, and with whom he subsequently
quarreled. Clifford is still Q man ap
parently in the prime of life. He is pos.
sessed Of considerable ability. being {
good mechanic. suave in manner, good
looking and Of pleasant address. Dur
ing his last term of imprisonment he in
vented a danger signal for railroad cross
ings. He endeavored to enlist H. NJ
%Yerington into applying for q patent, bu'
failed. He is now on his way East to Sc,
what he can do with it.